Sly Boots wrote:Personally I'm disappointed we didn't go down the same road Germany did a decade or so ago, when they appointed Klinsmann and Yogi Love to transform the nation's football from the bottom to the top... they're now reaping the benefits of redevelopment from the grassroots up, buy-in from the club academies and a coherent, long-term vision set down by the national team management. Every single level of the national setup, from the youth teams to the seniors, is geared around getting them to play the same way as the seniors. These are generations of kids who will grow up used to playing together and totally comfortable with the tactics they're asked to play. We get Stuart Pearce.

France did a similar thing in the years prior to their Euro and WC win (Houllier was heavily involved in transforming youth development in the country, part of the reason we later went for him as manager).

We just won't get that with Hodgson. That's not his fault, the FA were the ones who employed someone to steady the ship in the short-term, rather than just write us off for the next 3 or so tournaments but commit to a long-term vision.

Maybe they're afraid of the backlash if we go through a period of short-term pain for long-term gain, maybe they just don't know where to start with such an approach, or maybe they're quite happy for us to toddle on as we are, eternal quarter-finalists who go out on penalties.

This in a nutshell. The question is why are the FA afraid of the press, why can't they just tell them to go jump? With the press having so many problems themselves this year especially The Sun, that means they don't have the same power they used to, if the vast majority of footy journalism's going to be former players who should understand.

What you're leaving out is the fact that the bloody Premiership's blocking spots for English players, and Spurs is one of the worst offenders, big-arse new training facility down the road in Enfield opening soon, the old one turning out kids that are certainly performing well enough, just always on loan and never in our first team, helping keep Millwall up for example FFS. No first team footy equals no senior International success, say what you like about Pearce, he's taken the kids to a final and we'll see how he does at the Olympics, but then there are other English kids with Turkish parents or other ethnic descent bogging off to play for their heritage countries because they can't get a spot here, who knows what would happen if that talent was given a chance.

If Hodgson took a big axe to the big names he'd have nothing to lose, the opportunity's been lost again to deflate some egos and have a clean slate - they played better in the group without Rooney and this penalty bullshit isn't even a joke anymore, they should be taking and scoring 100 in training to just have this barrier broken down so it's gone for good and the bleedin' goalie should also train for taking as well as saving if that's allowed.

Rooney makes me sick ever since he came onto the national stage. Hes just a wet squib and a nasty attitude in that team.

You know what though - premiership blocking english players? If it were me id say fine dont play the scattered few that apparently play top flight and dont seem to have the spirit for the national game. Id be picking from the millwalls and the like cos i bet they'd want to play for the country and not even for any lofty reason like "country" and all that but just to get noticed for the chance to break into the premiership.

The problem with that mentality is the players for Millwall are shit. That'd put us on par with maybe Ireland or Wales since they draw most of their players from the championship. Our problem has got nothing to do with spirit or effort, never has been, its lack of confidence in technique to retain the ball and inventiveness with the ball. When the game goes against us we hoof the ball out up field away from danger rather than relying on technique to retain it. When we do get time on the ball in a difficult match we still hoof it up field in an attempt to score rather than build slowly as we fear we'd lose the ball while passing it around. This country has a fucking moronic demand for more and more passion and determination as if that will make any difference.

katarn wrote:Why didn't Ronaldo take one of the earlier kicks? You've gotta get your spotkick specialists to score early to put pressure on the opposition. Bit of a waste otherwise.

I bet he wanted to be the hero and take the final kick to win it. Was pretty silly, although nani should have left Bruno take his shot first, fuck me I bet they killed his confidence walking back twice.

Knew Italy would beat Germany, but didn't think it would be that easy. Can't believe that the commentators were call it a big shock. Yes Germany were favourites, but this is Italy not some small nation team. They had been undefeated up to that point and had already drawn with Spain. I think we could be in for a good final.

I'm happy for Italy, they looked a much more intelligent side than Germany who ended up even being outplayed a bit at times. It's not too dissimilar to what happened to them in 2010 - they were looking dominant until coming up against Spain in the semi and got outpassed.

Hope so also, would be nice to see them get something after the tournament they have had. Tbh they have totally surprised me i thought they as a national team were dead and gone but they have really grafted out some great results.

Think it'll be a testy defensive kind of final though - cant see it being high scoring with the two teams keeping their distance in attack, but, who knows could be a friggin belter too.